La Jolla kelp 6/16/07

[3StoogesFishing]

Started the day about 6:30 am or so, Ron, Ben (the kid) & me, Mary. Got bait, all dines, (think they're starting to forget what chovies are for). Cruised out around the jetty, hoping to make some mackerel, no luck. Think the red tide was out tho' (never been in it before), the water was really reddish, even the wake froth had a tinge. Anyhow, started to run North up toward the kelp, east side. As we're starting to pass the first clumps (still in the red tide), I see big fish jumping, and yell to Ron to stop. We snap on dines and throw 'em in. My first dine stays close, then heads back deep toward the boat. All of a sudden, it's slammed and straight under the boat it goes. Rod bends double, I max OUT the drag, and its still pulling line, I can't get back an inch! I'm not sure it isn't just gonna rub the line through on the keel of the boat before I get some back, then it breaks. I think that's just what happened, till I check the line, I had the wrong knot on, broke the knot ('surgeons loop', didn't even know I had it, just throwing dines, ya know?) So tie on another hook, bait back up, dine out, Now Ron hooks up, Ben's netting it- a CUDA! Our first on this boat! They're still trying to net it, and I hook up again. Good little fight, got it to the boat, another CUDA! yay! and I can't use the net cause they just got the other on board, still tangled in the net. So I take a chance, and swing mine over the side. Biggest 'cuda I've ever seen, (probly not sayin' much, haven't seen many), turns out biggest of the day, but you'll see it in the pic.

Got those 2 in the cooler, had to bend 'em, too big for the cooler. Little later, lost another, then hooked up, let Ben bring in this one, kinda small, still legal! into the cooler. Bite died down, so we move North. Went up to the north end, had to be 50 boats up there, including the Seaforth at one point, a LOT of people on that boat! Watched 3 guys in the afternoon, one guy in a red shirt was fighting something big, we watched for about 15+ minutes, they even ran up-line on the fish, seemed to lose it, wondered what it was. Another run on the Cuda on the far North end of the kelp got me one more, so we went by the kelp to make some bait, but couldn't find any 'dines. Got some mackerel out of a bait ball that came our way, these pearly silver fish with a blue line down the side out of the kelp, same size as dines, anybody know what those are? Also got some of these brown fish out of the kelp, up to 12-14 inches, dark brown on top, lighter underneath, can't tell what they are, maybe somebody out there can, so I'm showing a pic (this one's a little smaller, and they go silvery when they die). Look at the lateral line, it has a herringbone look to it, and feels a little bony to the touch. They actually filet out really nice, no bones except on the line. Hope you can see everything, camera's kinda cheap.

Well, we took off back to the marina, let the kid drive all the way back, loaded about 4:30, got home about 6:30 and died. See you all later!

[DOS BALLENAS]

you ate that spanish mack?

[3StoogesFishing]

Originally Posted by DOS BALLENAS

you ate that spanish mack?

Is that what it is? Caught them in the kelp, been trying to ID 'em since. Well, not eaten yet, put up for fish tacos some other time. The meat was lighter than regular mackerel, so I thought it might be good. Taco sized fillets.

[TROB]

........howd it taste

[smokincan]

Originally Posted by 3StoogesFishing

...these pearly silver fish with a blue line down the side out of the kelp, same size as dines, anybody know what those are? Also got some of these brown fish out of the kelp, up to 12-14 inches, dark brown on top, lighter underneath, can't tell what they are, maybe somebody out there can

The first sounds like a Topsmelt Atherinops affinis
or maybe even a grunion.

The second is locally called Spanish Mackerel, (I think there are 2 or 3 other fish around the world called that in their regions).

Both tasty when fresh. Bait for next trip when not.
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[Fishingtail]

Sounds like you had a good day on the water, thanks for the report

[tsurikichi]

Hi 3StogesFishing,

Fantastic report and great pics. Much appreciated.

Nice play by play.

tsurikichi

[3StoogesFishing]

Originally Posted by TROB

........howd it taste

Don't know yet, saving the fillets for fish tacos later, but I'll let ya know. The meat is nice & firm, light tan, no bones at all, almost the same color as the 'cuda, just a little darker.

[Duramax]

Originally Posted by 3StoogesFishing

Don't know yet, saving the fillets for fish tacos later, but I'll let ya know. The meat is nice & firm, light tan, no bones at all, almost the same color as the 'cuda, just a little darker.

It's gotta taste better then "Kuda" and no to the following question's.

I don't even know the guy..............:imgay:

[3StoogesFishing]

Originally Posted by smokincan

The first sounds like a Topsmelt Atherinops affinis
or maybe even a grunion.

The second is locally called Spanish Mackerel, (I think there are 2 or 3 other fish around the world called that in their regions).

Both tasty when fresh. Bait for next trip when not.
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I finally concluded too that the first is probably a Topsmelt, but the 2nd, ?? I've looked up Spanish Mack, and it isn't the "official" one, at least. This fish has no markings at all, just dark brown above, yellowish tan below. It has no "tuna" bumps, those ridges along the back & belly that all the tuna family seem to have. It has 2 dorsal fins (so it's not a herring, smelt or shad), and a 3rd very fineboned fin on the back just before the tail. It has NO teeth at all, just a very slightly rough ridge on the inside of the lower jaw. They're sturdy too, unlike the topsmelt, not one died after being dropped in the bait bag. Well, who knows? I think they'd make good live bait as well as good chum, and Spanish Mack works until I can find out different. Thanks!

[Dave Hansen]

the frist fish sounds like a salema and the other one is a spanish Jack very good to eat and very good bait I fish everyday 28 years so if you want info ask me anyone who says its a mack is a dumbass

[Dave Hansen]

It is the same family as yellowtail and amberjack is the spanish jack.